Switch.



W. S. SMITH.

SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I915- Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

lIISULAT/Ulf i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER STANDISH SMITH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEWIS R.

DRAKE, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SWITCH.

Application filed July 6, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VALTER STANDISH SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to switches used for electrical purposes generally. This switch contemplates the provision of a struc ture requiring a small amount of energy in its operation or manipulation and at the same time serving the purpose of bridging or closing the gap in an open circuit most effectively.

' The main object of my invention resides in a switch structure incltudfling a pivotally mounted arm, this arm being preferably horizontally disposed and being so arranged that the weights on each side of the pivot point neutralize or balanceeach other. In other words, this arm is evenly balanced in the sense that the weight on one side of the pivot point eq'ualizes the weight on the opposite side of the pivot point and in this manner the arm may assume any working position or inclination and be in a. state of balance or equilibrium. This arm is then supplemented by an additional weight means or structure, whereby the equilibrium or balance is destroyed when the arm moves out of what may be known as its balance position. In a horizontally arranged beam, this balance position will be when the arm is in true horizontal position and the arrangement is such that the arm is evenly balanced when it is in this position, but the supplemental weight means or structure is provided to destroy this balance when the arm is moved to assume an inclined position in either direction about its pivot point. In this manner, the switch arm is held in the desired position by an effect equal to the effective holding weight of the supplemental weight structure. 1

Further objects of my invention will become more apparent after a further detailed description of the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved type of switch, and,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Serial No. 38,311.

In these several views, there is shown a main frame block 1 preferably made of some insulating material, upon which the switch as a whole, is mounted. This block carries four pairs of bracket members 2, these bracket members being of L-shape in general form and held in their applied position by means of the screws 3. Between each pair of bracket members there is disposed a double pointed supporting member 4', these points being preferably of cone shape and seating themselves in suitable sockets formed in the vertically disposer legs of the supporting members. Each of these supporting members rigidly carries an arm 5, each arm being preferably of con ducting material and in this manner pivoting about their corresponding supporting members 4-. These arms are shown as being provided four in number, in two sets of two each, the switch as a whole in this manner forming a double arm double throw switch. The upper and lower pairs of arms 5 are additionally attached to each other by means of the tie pieces shown at 6 .these tie pieces being pivoted to their respective arms as is shown at 7 Thus, a movement of one of the arms 5 causes a corresponding movement of the other arm. In order to make the engagement between the arms comprising each pair more secure. I have provided a block of insulation such as is shown at 8. Each arm is provided with a contact element 9, this contact element being designed to cooperate with complemeutal stationary contact elements 10. It will be noted that the contacts 9 are all arranged to the left of the pivot supporting members t and in order to equ-al ize the balance, I have provided counterweight means comprising rearwardly extending rods 11 threaded as shown at 12 to accommodate adjusting nuts 13, these nuts being provided in pairs and securely holding a counter-weight 14 between them. This counter-weight may be moved back and forth on the rods 11 as may be desired to secure an even balance of the arm structure carrying the contacts. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that this arm structure may be so balanced that the weight on one side of the pivot points will exactly equal the weight 011 the opposite sides of the pivot points and as a result these arms will remain in whatever position they may have been placed whether it is horizontal. or whether it is in an inclined position. This is true because the vertical component of the dead weight on one side will be equal to the vertical component of the dead weight on the other side.

In order to prevent these contact carrying arms from assuming a horizontal or neutral position, I have provided a supplemental weightstructure, this supplemental weight structure comprising weights 15 carried upon upstanding rods 16, these rods being threaded similar to the rods 11, as shown at 1'7, on to which the nuts 18 oper ate. These rods 17 are rigidly mounted in connection with the upper arms 5 and consequently they are swing-able with these arms. Therefore, when these arms are moved to av position very slightly out of a true horizontal the supplemental weights 15 become ei'l ective to continue the movements of the arm until one set of contacts 9 and 10 are in engagement with each other. To then move the switch to the opposite position, it is only necessary to overcome the effect or influence of these weights 18, this influence gradually diminishing until a true horizotal position is reached, at which point it ill be nothing. A slight movement of the arms 5 to a position beyond a true horizontal, will again render these weights effective to continue the movement of the arms until the opposite set of contacts 9 and 10 are in engagement. Thus, I have provided what may be termed an oscillating switch, this switch being very positive in its operation, but at the same time requiring a minimum amount of operating force. This switch is particularly adaptable for instruments or machines delicately or very sensitively constructed. Another adaptation of my improved switch in its present embodiment especially, is in connection with a motor control where it is desired to reverse either the field or the armature to cause av reversal in the motor rotation. It may be understood that the upper and lower sets of contacts 9 and 10 are correspondingly wired.

In this latter use, it is particularly desir- I able that the switch be held closed by an additional force than the weights 15. This novel arrangement I have shown to be the magnets 19, whose armatures 20 are carried by a block of insulation 21 pivotally mounted as shown at 22 between each pair of arms 5. Thus, when one of the magnets 19 is energized, the switch structure as a whole will be shifted to bring the corresponding set of contacts 9 and 10 in engagement and this engagement will be maintained by the influence of the magnet if desired, or this magnet circuit may be broken and the holding efiect of the weights 15 relied upon. Then, should it be desired to again shift the switch, the other magnet 19 may be energized to accomplish the same results as above outlined.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising a plurality of pivotally supported horizontally arranged arms arranged in pairs, a tie piece pivotally attached to arms of each pair, a contact carried by each arm to one side of its pivot point, a weight structure adjustably mounted in connection with said arms on the other side of the pivot points from said contacts, and a supplemental weight structure rigidly carried in connection and swingable with said arms and disposed in vertical alinement with their pivot points when the arms are in horizontal position.

2-. An electric switch comprising a plurality of pivotally supported horizontally arranged arms arranged in pairs, atie piece pivotally attached to arms of each pair, a contact carried by each arm to one side of its pivot point, an armature pivotally mounted between each pair of arms, magnets for co operation with said armature, a weight structure adjustably mounted in connection with said arms on the other sides of the pivot points from said contacts and armatures, and a supplemental weight structure rigidly carried in connection and swingable with said arms and disposed in vertical alinement with their pivot points when the arms are in horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVALTER STANDISH SMITH.

lVitnesses:

L. R. DRAKE, WALTER E. L. Boox.

Copies of this patent may be obtain d for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

